Puppy mills and "backyard breeders"

Pugsavers wrote:There really are varying degrees of what makes a "reputable" breeder. Sometimes I think we should come up with a special title for those that do "pass the test" so to speak.

I like to call them "Ethical Breeders", where the breed's and the individual dogs' health and welfare is kept first and foremost. Not all show breeders are ethical and not all ethical breeders show, you really do need to do as much research as you can before you buy. It is hard to know the right questions to ask the first time around.

I like the "ethical" breeder description. After I did the research I should have done before I bought my first pug, I started searching for a pug that was suitable for breeding as I really did want to be a breeder. I searched the AKC website list of breeders that were members. I found one in Florida that had a 1 1/2 year old fawn female. I emailed the breeder and we talked at length on the phone. I was up front about where I wanted to go with this and after a month of communication he agreed to sell me the dog and help me get started. He had several show dogs that were champions and this little female came from those lines. So, I went to south Florida and picked up Katie Boo. I got my first clue that all was not well on the trip home. I know pugs snort and snore but this little dog concerned me. I thought maybe it was just anxiety and excitement from new people, places etc. I emailed the breeder asap when we got in and his response was that she always breathed like that. We went immediately to my vet for a thorough check. Katie needed to lose a few pounds and it was hoped that her breathing would improve. She also had an umbilical hernia and baby teeth that had not come out. Long story short, losing weight didn't help. She was scheduled for surgery to correct what was most likely a soft palate problem. Boy was it! The vet said she had to move the soft palate aside to intubate Katie. The surgery did not solve the problem. After a trip to the emergency vet after Katie aspirated one evening,

we were referred to a group of specialists in Largo. Endoscopy showed that she had paralysis of one of her vocal cords. A relatively new surgery was recommended and done that did give her quite a bit of improvement but did not totally solve the issue as she will sometimes still aspirate food. Scares me to death! She crouches to the floor,tail straight out, salivates and her tongue turns blue. Fortunately,the episodes have always subsided. I emailed the breeder about all of these problems and he stopped responding. I really was unhappy about what I percieved as his lack of concern for Katie. When I finally let him know I was considering reporting him to AKC, he offered to take her back. By that time, she was part of our family and I had spent thousands of dollars trying to help her. I would not consider returning her under any circumstances. I do not think this breeder cared at all for this little dog. I also don't believe for a minute that he could have been unaware of her problems. He raises pugs for pete's sake! So, Katie Boo has been with us for three years. It has only been this past year that she has learned to play with the other pugs and seek attention from her humans. She used to just sit back and watch all the others tussle and play and never ask to be petted or loved on. Really sad! But she is doing better now socially. She of course was spayed as she certainly is not appropriate for breeding. The only thing I can say good about this breeder was that he didn't turn her in to rescue or have her euthanized. So, I have gotten a pug from a BYB and from an AKC breeder and I don't know which was worse! But I do have sweet little Katie Boo.